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Just installed new Umnitza Orion V2 60-LED 4300 angel eyes in my 2003 330i, and they work nicely, except they're a bit too bright. I've heard that adding a rheostat or potentiometer will provide dimming capability. Questions: what size (ohms and wattage) and where (in the red power wire?).

I thought the same thing but eventually I got used to it being soo bright.
I c peoples Necks breaking looking at those demon eyes. Lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by fwardell

Just installed new Umnitza Orion V2 60-LED 4300 angel eyes in my 2003 330i, and they work nicely, except they're a bit too bright. I've heard that adding a rheostat or potentiometer will provide dimming capability. Questions: what size (ohms and wattage) and where (in the red power wire?).

I think you receive an email from us on this. It's not a bad idea to speak to someone electrically minded for this just to double check

You're wrong again Nick. The trigger wire from the ECU switchs the main angel eye power relay on or off. Putting the rheostat on that trigger wire will not work.

The rheostat needs to be spliced into the red main power wire between the relay and the main power source as shown in the pictures below.

If you use the option that switches and fades the angel eyes on and off with the interior lights, you will need a second rheostat on the wire that goes to the interior footwell light. Without the second rheostat, the angel eyes will be at full brightness whenever the interior lights are on.

I installed an adjustable dimmer on my EAS Auroras to tone them down so they would look good at dusk and at night.
I don't use them during the day. (BTW, these are the new, 15% brighter v1.1 Auroras.)

To install the dimmer, I spliced into the main power wire between the relay and the main power source. I wired them to come on with the fog lights and I do not use the wire that fades them on and off with the interior lights.

The rheostat, plastic "project box", and the knob are all from Radio Shack. The cost of all three parts was less than $10.

25-Ohm 3-Watt Rheostat
Model: 271-265 | Catalog #: 271-265

Project Enclosure (3x2x1")
Model: 270-1801 | Catalog #: 270-1801

Communications Style Control Knob
Model: 274-402 | Catalog #: 274-402

Installing the dimmer was easy...

- Just drill three holes in the project box.
- Solder the wires to the rheostat.
-Assemble the project box and attach it to the firewall. ( I attached it with HD velcro. )

I just installed my Orion V2's over the weekend and thought the same thing, just a bit too bright . . . I think by toning them down just by 5 or 10% will make them perfect! Definitely gonna give this a shot!

great write up and UncleDon that looks amazing dimmed!! i wish someone in the Md/DC/VA area could do this for me.... im too scared to attempt this myself....

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@UncleDon: This is awesome. If I wanted to dim the interior light trigger wire, I would need a separate dimmer for that as well?

Thanks in advance.

As stated above you would need a second dimmer...

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleDon

If you use the option that switches and fades the angel eyes on and off with the interior lights, you will need a second rheostat on the wire that goes to the interior footwell light. Without the second rheostat, the angel eyes will be at full brightness whenever the interior lights are on.